Latest News

DAVE FULLER, QMI Agency

Vance Veazey, whose previous claim to fame on the PGA Tour was holding the course record in the Western Open for about a minute, saw history slip through his fingers again Thursday at St. George’s.

The laid-back, 45-year-old, good-old boy from Memphis, Tenn., shot a competitive course-record tying, six-under 64 Thursday at St. George’s Golf and Country Club to lead the $5.1 million RBC Canadian Open by a stroke for most of the first round.

Delahoussaye erased Veazey’s short-lived record, firing a shocking eight-under-par 62 for a two-shot lead after the first round. Veazey, who had finished his round four hours earlier, must be getting used to this.

At the 2003 Western Open, Veazey shot a tournament-course record 64 at Cog Hill. Problem was, Tiger Woods was still on the course.

“Tiger shot a 63, so I never got to have my name on the deal,” Veazey said with a laugh. “I believe he beat me by 18 shots the rest of the week.”

Veazey, who has made just four cuts this year — though he tied for fifth at the 2010 Louisiana Open — has been waiting forever for his career to take off, or flame out.

“I’ve won four times on the Nationwide Tour — but I’ve been doing this a long time,” said Veazey, whose home course is the little-known Back Acres Country Club in Senatobia, Miss. He holds the course record, of course, a blistering 61, over the 6,500 yard layout.

“It has been a grind. I’m a journeyman, so to speak,” Veazey continued. “I’ve had some success and I just keep plugging and believing eventually something good is going to happen.”

Veazey, who started his round from the ninth tee, birdied four of his first five holes. His bogey on his 13th, the par-3, third hole, was the only scar on his scorecard.

Veazey had never played the entire St. George’s course before Thursday, cutting his Tuesday practice round short.

“I played one through nine and then cut over to 11 and 18,” Veazey said. “My caddie told me I shouldn’t turn up for my next tournament until Thursday.”